Roche Diagnostics (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) has purchased assets from BioMicro Systems for all products associated with the Roche NimbleGen microarray workflow. These assets consist of key instrumentation in the comprehensive Roche NimbleGen microarray workflow including the NimbleGen Hybridization Systems (both 4- and 12-bay models). Also included in this purchase are array accessories covering all mixers designed for the Roche NimbleGen high-density microarray portfolio. Roche Diagnostics will continue to provide global sales, service, and support for all products in the NimbleGen microarray workflows.

With the purchase of these assets, Roche Diagnostics will transfer the manufacturing capabilities for the above products to an in-house manufacturing facility. According to Andreas GÃ¶rtz, VP of Marketing at Roche NimbleGen, 'The acquired products are integral to the high quality data the NimbleGen array workflow provides researchers worldwide. Acquiring these assets will allow Roche complete control over the production, support and service of these products to ensure continued timely distribution, full support and the high level of service our customers have grown to expect from Roche."

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2009, Roche had over 80'000 employees worldwide and invested almost 10 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 49.1 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

For life science research only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

NIMBLEGEN is a trademark of Roche.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.